ICYMI sports headlines: Votto talks, Reds surge and FC may be on brink of MLS expansion

FC Cincinnati scored three goals in extra time against Detroit City FC to advance to the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Enquirer / Pat Brennan

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) returns to the dugout after striking out in the bottom of the seventh inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Miami Marlins at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Friday, May 4, 2018. Raisel Iglesias tallies a save as the Reds win 4-1. (Photo: Sam Greene)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Matt Harvey throws against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)(Photo: The Associated Press)

The Reds got back on the right side of history

Wednesday was another step forward for Matt Harvey, the 29-year-old reclamation project. His line wasn’t as clean as it was in the first start, but Harvey showed he could make big pitches under stress. Harvey went four innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He walked none and struck out five. He threw 77 pitches, 55 strikes.

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FC Cincinnati general manager Jeff Berding thanks council members for their support during a press conference to announce a community benefits agreement between FC Cincinnati and the city to support the West End and areas surrounding the proposed soccer stadium at Cincinnati City Hall in downtown on April 16, 2018.(Photo: The Enquirer/Sam Greene)

After months of apparent missing and resetting deadlines in the Major League Soccer expansion race, Futbol Club Cincinnati appeared to learn recently it was finally up against a hard deadline with real consequences.

Though not officially spoken of by the team or the league in the public sphere, the deadline manifested itself in this shape: Entering the league in 2019 would no longer be an option if at some point late this spring FC Cincinnati's expansion bid wasn't 100 percent completed.

New basketball head coach Travis Steele speaks about his plans for the program as he's introduced at the Cintas Center on Xavier University's campus in Cincinnati on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.(Photo: Sam Greene/The Enquirer)